New Project! Russian-Inspired Late Edwardian Suit

It feels like it’s been ages since I embarked on a complex historical project, but with Winter coming, and photo shoots needing shooting, it’s time to start (yes, already!) on a project that’s been in my mind for awhile.

I need to come up with a clever name for it, because there are just too many descriptors – Late Edwardian/early 1920s-red-wool-Russian-inspired-winter-soutache-military-themed-furry-jacket-suit-thing just won’t do. What should I call it?

Here’s the inspo:

Louis Vallet – 1916

1915 – via

1913

1915 – via

For the soutache embroidery, I’m studying these, along with many more you can see on my Pinterest board for this project:

Alexandra;s tunic from her uniform as commander-in-chief of the 5th Aleksonariya Hussars – via

Jacket and skirt, c. 1890-1900 – via

The Met, c. 1899 – via

A few sketches I did for soutache ideas:

I went shopping for materials yesterday and found them quite easily, all in one place – wool, soutache braid, lining, buttons – which I’m going to believe means this project wants to be put together. 🙂

For the jacket pattern, I am using Wearing History R109 – 1910s Jacket Pattern. This is one of the Resto-Vival ePatterns I printed out and taped together. It took a little time, but I didn’t have to wait for it in the snail-mail. I do have to test it out thoroughly with a muslin, though, to make sure all the pieces line up nicely, as there’s quite a lot of room for error when taping the pieces together.

Wearing History ePattern – click here to see the listing for it

For the jacket, I will be attempting to alter the collar so it can be turned up and buttoned around the neck – it will be faux fur, along with the cuffs and hem of the jacket.

For the skirt, I will be using Butterick 4092, which is an earlier, thinner skirt silhouette, more 1912, but I also found surprisingly narrow skirts in the 1919 section of Everyday Fashions of the Twenties: As Pictured in Sears and Other Catalogs (see in the photo above with the materials).

Butterick 4092 – I’ll use View B with alterations.

I suppose now it’s time to get started! Bring on the tailoring, the soutache embroidery, and the fur-sewing. These are all things I have very little or no experience with, so it’ll be a good challenge, and hopefully will turn out to be something I’m proud of. 🙂